Complete Project Gutenberg John Galsworthy Works eBook

Felsman. The cursed music of the Town!
Is it back to him thou wilt go? [Groping for sight
of the hated figure] I cannot see.

Seelchen. Fear not! I go ever onward.

Felsman. Do not leave me to the wind in
the rocks! Without thee love is dead, and I
must die.

Seelchen. Poor heart! I am gone.

Felsman. [Crouching against the rock] It is
cold.

At the blowing of the
Shepherd’s pipe, thecowhorn
stretches
forth his hand to her.
The mandolin twangs out, and thewinehorn holds out
his hand. She stands unmoving.

Seelchen. Companions. I must go.
In a moment it will be dawn.

In Silence thecowhorn and thewinehorn,
cover their faces.
The false dawn dies.
It falls quite dark.

SCENE V

Then a faint glow stealing up, lights
the snowy head of the great horn, and streams
forth on Seelchen. To either aide of that
path of light, like shadows. Thecowhorn and thewine horn stand with
cloaked heads.

Seelchen. Great One! I come!

The Peak of thegreathorn speaks in a far-away voice, growing,
with the light, clearer
and stronger.

Wandering
flame, thou restless fever
Burning
all things, regretting none;
The
winds of fate are stilled for ever—­
Thy
little generous life is done.
And
all its wistful wonderings cease!
Thou
traveller to the tideless sea,
Where
light and dark, and change and peace,
Are
One—­Come, little soul, to mystery!

Seelchen falling
on her knees, bows her head to the ground. The
glow slowly fades till
the scene is black.

SCENE VI

Then as the blackness lifts, in the dim light of the
false dawn filtering through the window of the mountain
hut. Lamond and Felsman are seen standing
beside Seelchen looking down at her asleep on
the window seat.

Felsman. [Putting out his hand to wake her]
In a moment it will be dawn.

She stirs, and her lips
move, murmuring.

Lamond. Let her sleep. She’s
dreaming.

Felsman raises
a lantern, till its light falls on her face.
Then the two men move
stealthily towards the door, and, as she
speaks, pass out.

Seelchen. [Rising to her knees, and stretching
out her hands with ecstasy] Great One. I come!
[Waking, she looks around, and struggles to her feet]
My little dream!